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Operator Profile
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Empire Attractions
New entertainment choices for New Yorkers
ABOVE: Empire Attractions founder Doug Waterbury ABOVE RIGHT: The Galaxi rollercoaster at Sylvan Beach
In April 2009, Doug Waterbury, an Oswego, New York, Santa's Workshop, America’s first theme park, I jumped at the
entrepreneur, established Empire Attractions, an umbrella chance."
company created to manage his numerous entertainment venues Waterbury purchased Santa’s Workshop in spring 2002, followed by
and events, from music festivals to haunted attractions and Sylvan Beach and Yesterday’s Royal five years later, and the Sterling
amusement parks, in upstate New York. Here Doug shares his Renaissance Festival and Screamers’ Hollow in 2008. More recently he
vision for Empire Attractions with Park World added the Celtic Rock Festival and the Sylvan Beach Screamer
Speedboat Thrill Ride, both of which debuted last summer.
D
oug Waterbury’s portfolio of attractions include the Sterling "These all have significant cross-over appeal because they share the
Renaissance Festival, Sterling Celtic Rock Festival and Screamers' same demographic." Waterbury observes. "In fact we have formed a
Hollow Halloween event in Sterling, New York. At Santa’s new company to manage and market them together."
Workshop, children can see Santa Claus and his reindeer. At the historic “This is just the beginning,” he adds. "Historic Sylvan Beach
1940s-style Sylvan Beach Amusement Park, a lakeside rollercoaster ride Amusement Park is one of America's first amusement parks with origins
is one of many attractions. The adjacent Yesterday’s Royal restaurant back to 1881. It is set on the shores of beautiful Oneida Lake and
offers fine dining. A few steps away is a monster speedboat ride called offers an interesting mix of architecture from Victorian to Art Deco. It is
the Sylvan Beach Screamer. our intent to restore the park to its original condition with some 21st
“Our goal is to change the way people think about vacationing in century additions as well."
New York,” said Waterbury, who serves as Empire Attractions’ president "Santa's Workshop has been the beneficiary of an extensive
and CEO. “New Yorkers no longer have to travel thousands of miles to restoration from the inside out over the last several years. It is a
find exciting and worthwhile family entertainment – it is all right here in charming Christmas theme park which operates summer onwards."
their own backyard.” Looking ahead, Waterbury sees a bright future: "We are absolutely
Waterbury took an unusual path into the outdoor amusement looking to expand our operations regionally, nationally, and eventually
industry. "I have always had an interest in Americana. I've collected internationally. It is also our intention to develop new themed events at
and restored antique cars, boats, snowmobiles and Victorian homes," all of our venues, such as Screamer’s Hollow in Sterling, and
he explained. "When the opportunity was there to own and restore expanding the operating season as far as demand will allow."
Sterling Renaissance Festival Sylvan Beach Screamer
Santa’s
Workshop
34
MARCH 2010
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